Wearing and Washing May Strip Clothes of Their Happy History

Please spare us any more designer success stories such as that of Leeba Marks (“Clothes With a Happy History,” June 29) who has simply joined in the fad of cutting up every piece of vintage linen and lace that can be located and turning them into pricey boutique items. Rather than giving new life to these already wonderful old fabrics, many will begin to rapidly deteriorate under the stress of wearing and washing, and the history and handwork will be lost.

--SUSAN HUTSON

Agoura